The La Crescent City Council was not comfortable permitting the use of golf carts and all-terrain (ATV) vehicles as a means of in-city transportation or for snowplowing. However, they refused to vote for an ordinance allowing them for personal transportation.

Under the current ordinance, golf carts can only be permitted to handicapped persons, but Minnesota state law now allows municipalities to issue a permit to anyone who wants to operate a golf cart or ATV on designated streets.

Police Chief Todd Nelson said he’s received several inquiries about people wanting to use golf carts for driving in town, as well as ATVs for snowplowing. But the current ordinance does not allow it. The new ordinance would, Nelson said, “and, we’re trying to stay compliant with state law.”

“I think we’re opening up a huge can of worms,” said council member Greg Husmann. “We’re going to have four-wheelers, everybody who’s got one is going to want a permit. We’re going to have snowmobiles.… I think we (should) handle it on a case-by-case basis.”

Mayor Mike Poellinger pointed out several items in the new ordinance, such as speed issues, proper signage, and weight and size requirements, that should be in the existing handicap golf cart ordinance, and city administrator Bill Waller should look at incorporating those provisions immediately.

As for the current requests for golf cart and ATV use, the council said if they do not meet the current criteria for handicap use, they should not be allowed.

Wildwood development

The council approved a development agreement with PPM-LaC LLC, the developer of the Wildwood residential development within the city limits. This development is located on the former Croell Redi-Mix property on Hwy. 25, just a short distance south of Hwy. 6.

The agreement requires, amongst many things, the developer to set up a letter of credit or escrow account in the amount of $400,000—the total estimated cost of required improvements, and engineering and legal fees.

“Hopefully the agreement incorporates everything in the city’s ordinance, from park land dedication to sidewalks, to storm sewer deposits, to legal fees and construction costs,“ said Dan Borcherding, representing the city’s engineers with Yaggy Colby.

City attorney William Von Arx said he had reviewed the agreement and it looked complete and satisfactory.

Property taxes

No one attended the annual Truth In Taxation hearing. The council had chosen to hold the hearing even though the current proposed levy limit of 3.9 percent did not require a hearing by law.

“There are two major revenue sources in the city’s budget,” Waller said. “Those are property taxes and local government aid.”

For 2009, Waller said, there’s a small increase in property taxes of around $9,000 spread over 2,200 properties. In 2008, the property tax collected was $1,910,362, and the 2009 proposed property taxes will be $1,919,485.

Waller pointed out there will likely be a cut in local government aid, but no amount of the reduction is known at this time.

“Based on that thought, I think the suggestion will be that we hold off on street projects and those types of things until we know what the proposed aid will be in 2009.”

The council will vote on the proposed 2009 budget at the Dec. 22 meeting, Waller said.

Other business

~ La Crescent Fire Chief Bernie Buehler submitted two memos to the personnel committee about staff changes at the fire department. With Assistant Chief Marti Welch stepping down as of Jan. 1, 2009, Buehler recommended Terry Fruechte to fill the position.

In his memo, Buehler said Fruechte has been with the fire department for 16 years, and has been a captain the past 5 years. The council approved the recommendation, and it will leave a captain position open. Buehler also notified the council of the resignation of Pastor Greg Hovland, the department’s chaplain, as well as safety and training officer. Hovalnd will be leaving La Crescent for a new position as pastor in Green Bay, Wis. The council will send Hovland a letter thanking him for his years of service.

~ The council also approved the purchase of a S185 Bobcat skid steer with a snowblower attachment and a broom attachment for the Public Works department at a cost of $37,163.19. The Bobcat will be purchased through the Minnesota state bid process, which eliminates the need for competitive bidding. The purchase is part of the capital equipment certificates that will be issued in 2009, Waller said.

~ The offer of $79,900 that the city made on property located at 339 S. 1st St. was accepted by the seller. Closing on the property is set on or before Dec. 24. Waller said he is working on several alternatives for the council to consider regarding the use of the property, which is in close proximity to the fire station and could potentially be the site of a future parking lot.

~ The council accepted the proposal from Yaggy Colby Associates of Rochester for the first phase of the Wagon Wheel Trail. The proposal, in the amount of $136,405, includes final design services, bidding services, and construction services for the projected 10-foot wide, paved trail with 2-foot wide shoulders.

~ The city approved it franchise renewal with Charter Communications, and it showed fees collected by the city for the renewal in 2008 were $8,549.25, credited to the general fund.

~ Ace Telephone (Communications), which in a 2002 franchise agreement, provided a public, educational and government access channel (PEG) to the city at no charge, has now provided a second one to the La Crescent High School. The council approved an addendum to their previous agreement with Ace, reflecting the second channel at the high school.